Requirements of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) emphasize the need to provide educational stability for children and youth in foster care, with a particular emphasis on collaboration between State Education Agencies (SEAs), local education agencies (LEAs), and child welfare agencies. These provisions stress the importance of limiting educational disruption by keeping children in foster care in their schools of origin unless it is determined to be in their best interest to change schools. If a change of schools is determined to be of best interest, children in foster care shall be enrolled in their new schools without delay.

In implementing these provisions, the District, together with the SEA, other LEAs, and child welfare agencies, shall comply with applicable laws, such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).

School of Origin

The school of origin is the school in which a child is enrolled at the time of placement in foster care. If a studentís foster care placement changes, the school of origin is then considered to be the school in which the student is enrolled at the time of the placement change. School of origin determinations shall be consistent with the educational stability requirements under the Fostering Connections Act and shall prevail throughout the time the child remains in foster care. The District, together with the SEA, other LEAs, and child welfare agencies, shall consider the educational stability benefits for students during times of transition out of foster care.

Best Interest Determination

A number of factors relating to a childís best interest must be considered in making school placement determinations. These factors include:

A.

preference of the child;

B.

preferences of the childís parent(s) or education decision maker(s) as defined by State law;

C.

the childís attachment to the school, including meaningful relationships with staff and peers;

D.

placement of the childís sibling(s);

E.

influence of the school climate on the child, including safety;

F.

availability and quality of the services in the school to meet the childís educational and socioemotional needs;

G.

history of school transfers and the impact on the child;

H.

the length of commute and its impact on the child, based on the childís developmental status;

I.

whether the child is a student with a disability under the IDEA who is receiving special education and related services or a student with a disability under Section 504 who is receiving special education or related aids and services and, if so, the availability of those required services in a school other than the school of origin; and

J.

whether the child is an English Learner (EL) and is receiving language services and, if so, the availability of those required services in a school other than the school or origin, consistent with Title VI and Equal Education Opportunity Act (EEOA).

Transportation costs should not be considered when determining a childís best interest.

The State Education Agency (SEA), Local Education Agency (LEA), and child welfare agencies shall collaborate in making best interest determinations. The parties shall strive to gather meaningful input from relevant parties, such as the child (depending on age), foster parents, biological parents when appropriate, education decision maker(s), and other relatives. If the child has an IEP or a Section 504 plan or is an EL student, then relevant school staff will need to participate in the best interest decision process.

Best interest determinations should be made as quickly as possible in order to maintain educational stability. To the extent feasible and appropriate, the student in foster care shall remain in his/her school of origin while the determination is being made.

District Point of Contact

The Districtís local Point of Contact (POC) shall serve as the Foster Care Liaison to work with the local Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Education POC so designated by the county will be the District Foster Care Liaison/POCís remains point of contact. The Foster Care Liaison/POC must be registered in the Stateís online Educational Entity Master (EEM).

The POC is responsible for safeguarding the rights of children and youth in foster care who attend school in this District. The POC must be notified immediately upon the enrollment or assignment of a foster care child/youth. The POC shall serve as a liaison to coordinate with child protection agencies, lead the development of a process for making the best determination for a student, facilitate the transfer of records, and oversee the enrollment and regular school attendance of students in foster care.

The District POCís responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

A.

coordinating the implementation of Title I requirements with the corresponding child welfare agency POC;

B.

leading the development of a process for making best interest determinations;

C.

documenting and overseeing the implementation of best interest determinations;

D.

facilitating the immediate enrollment of children/youth in foster care and securing the transfer of studentsí records;

overseeing that children in foster care are enrolled in and regularly attending school; and

I.

providing professional development and training to school staff on the Title I provisions and educational needs of students in foster care.

Transportation

Transportation services may be necessary to maintain children in foster care in the school of placement (school of origin or otherwise) that is determined to be in their best interest. The District will collaborate with the State and/or local child welfare agency or agencies in providing, and arranging such transportation services. The District POC will coordinate, oversee, and document the transportation provisions, which may include:

A.

use of pre-existing bus routes or stops close to the new foster care placement (that may cross district boundaries), such as bus routes for magnet schools, non-public or charter schools, and transportation for homeless students as required by the McKinney-Vento Act;

B.

re-routing of existing bus routes within the District and/or outside of the District as identified in A. above;

C.

use of a school bus stop near the existing transportation system for the school of origin (or placement) for drop-off and pick-up;

D.

use of existing public transportation options, if the child is of an appropriate age and has or is able to acquire the skills to utilize such options; or

E.

use of foster parents or other family member(s) who may be willing and able to transport the child to/from school;

F.

use of transportation service covered by other programs, for which the child is eligible.

The District is responsible for transportation services for the foster care student for the duration of the time the child is in foster care. When a student exits foster care, the District will continue to prioritize the studentís educational stability in determining placement, supports, and services deemed to be in the childís best interests. Continuing transportation services through the end of the school year, when remaining in the school of origin, may be a part of the best interest determination.

Additional costs incurred in providing transportation to the school of origin should reflect the difference between what the District would otherwise spend to transport a student to his/her assigned school and the cost of transporting the foster care student to the school of origin. The District will collaborate with the SEA, other LEAs, and child welfare agencies to pursue possible funding sources and arrangements to deal with transportation costs.

Student Data and Privacy

The District will collaborate with the SEA, other LEAs, and child welfare agencies to communicate, collaborate, and share data in order to improve educational outcomes for children in foster care. All communications and data sharing, however, shall comply with all statutory requirements to protect student privacy, including FERPA, District policies (Policy 8330 and AG 8330), and other privacy requirements under Federal, State, or local laws.

Failure to protect personal information can result in an inappropriate release of information that endangers students, their caregivers, and possibly school personnel. Therefore, the POC shall work with other school personnel to secure the PII contained in student databases and records. Conversations about students in foster care shall be held in private locations to prevent information from being overheard. Information regarding domestic violence of other safety issues must be addressed in student records and information release procedures.

Upon enrollment of a child or youth in foster care, the POC will coordinate with appropriate administrative staff to assure that the school last attended by the child/youth is immediately contacted to provide relevant academic or other relevant records. If upon enrollment the student does not have any immunization required for enrollment by State law or any other medical records, the POC will assist the family or student in obtaining the immunizations or necessary medical records. The POC will also contact the Director of Transportation to assure transportation of the homeless student is provided in accordance with the Board's Transportation Policy and transportation procedures agreed upon by the District.

Dispute Resolution

Any disputes regarding the enrollment, assignment, or transportation service of a foster care student will be referred to the POC for expeditious resolution. When a dispute arises over school placement, the child or youth shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, remain enrolled in the school of origin, pending resolution of the dispute, and shall be provided with all services, including adequate and appropriate transportation, for which they are eligible while the dispute is being resolved. The child welfare agency of record is considered the final decision maker in making best interest determination (unless State law or policy dictates otherwise) if there is disagreement regarding school placement for a child in foster care.